February, the month of snow, handmade chocolate, and… festivals! Check out the various festivals held around Fukushima. You may have to save some for next year, some fall on the same date!
Name: Winter Festa In Koriyama 2016 – Celebrating New Sake!
Date: Friday, February 5th
Area: Koriyama City – Koriyama View Hotel Annex (4th floor) (郡山ビューホテルアネックス)
Time: 6:30pm – 8pm
Price: 3,000 yen for pre-purchased tickets; 3,500 yen for tickets at the door
Address: View Annex Hotel 10-10 Nakamachi, Koriyama-shi Fukushima Prefecture 963-8004
Details: Enjoy delicious new sake, freshly made food and more at this popular, annual event!
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Name: Yanaizu Snow Festival
Date: Saturday, February 6th – Sunday, February 7th
Area: Yanaizu, Michi no Eki
Time: Saturday, 10am – 8pm; Sunday, 10am – 3pm
Address: 〒969-7201 福島県河沼郡, 柳津町大字柳津字下平乙１８１－１
Shitadairaotsu-181-1 Yanaizu, Yanaizu-machi, Kawanuma-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-7201
Details: Take the opportunity to visit the home of the Akabeko during their snow festival. They will have snow sculptures, setsubun bean throwing, food stalls, live music, stage events and more!
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Name: Knit Fair
Date: Sunday, February 7th
Area: Date City
Time: 10am – 4pm
Address: 阿武隈急行保原駅2階 コミュニティセンター
Higashinozaki-45-2 Hobaramachi, Date, Fukushima Prefecture 960-0671, second floor of the community center
Details: Bundle up for winter with sweaters, cardigans, vests, scarves and more! With over 3,00 handmade products, you have plenty to choose from! Not only that, but you can acquire these items at wholesale price, which is half of which you would find in the store!
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Name: Painted Candle Festival
Date: Thursday, February 11th – Saturday, February 13th
Area: Tsurugajo Castle in Aizuwakamatsu City
Time: 5:30pm – 9pm
Address: Tsurugajo Castle 福島県会津若松市追手町1-1
1-1 Ōtemachi, Aizuwakamatsu-shi, Fukushima-ken 965-0873
Details: Aizuwakamatsu is well known for its handcrafted and hand painted candles. This festival showcases over 15,000 of these exquisite candles in and around Tsurugajo Castle and Oyakuen Gardens.
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Name: Snow and Fire Festival
Date: Saturday, February 13th
Area: Mishima in Aizu
Time: 12pm – 7:30pm
Address: 〒969-7516, 福島県大沼郡三島町大字大登字寺沢９７６
Terasawa Ōnobori, Mishima-machi, Ōnuma-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-7516
Details: Experience Mishima’s local culture which will be on display throughout the festival. There will also be bonfires and fireworks! The main event is the tradition of setting up large structures made of wood and lighting them on fire.
There is a shuttle available that you can reserve for 1,000 yen that will take you from Aizuwakamatsu Station to the event and includes a 500 yen ticket for the food stalls. It leaves at 12:40pm and arrives in Mishima at 2:45pm. It leaves Mishima at 7:30pm and arrives at Aizuwakamatsu Station at 8:50pm. Please call this number to make a reservation: 0242-24-3030
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Name: Parlour Talk – hosted by Aizu Wakamatsu International Association
Date: Saturday, February 13th
Area: Aizuwakamatsu City
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Address: Aizu Keiko-do, 3rd floor
3-50 Sakaemachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0871
Details: It’s time for the second session of the experimental AWIA event, Parlour Talk. If you are a foreign national in the area looking to converse more with locals about anything and everything, why not try Parlour Talk? This event is an opportunity to talk in English with people who have similar interests. Our theme this time is national and cultural holidays.
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Name: 30th Annual Ouchijuku Snow Festival in Minami Aizu
Date: Saturday February 13th – Sunday February 14th
Area: Ouchijuku in Shimogo, Minami Aizu
Time: Saturday, 1pm – 6:15pm; Sunday, 10am – 3pm
Address: 〒969-5207 福島県南会津郡下郷町大字大内字山本８
Yamamoto-8 Ōuchi, Shimogō-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-5207
Details: Known for its thatched roofs, visiting during the winter is a unique event, highlighted by lanterns lit along the road and a fireworks event. Dances, sake tasting, igloos and more!
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Name: 44th Annual Tadami F
urusato Snow Festival
Date: Saturday, February 13th – Sunday, February 14th
Area: Tadami in Minami Aizu
Time: Saturday, 10am – 9pm; Sunday, 10am – 9pm
Address: In front of Tadami Station
Tadami station, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture 968-0421
Details: One of the biggest events in a small town, this festival will pull out all the stops with snow sculptures, lit candles, stage shows, magic shows, games, fireworks and more! You can even try out snowmobiling for 1,500 yen!
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Name: Nishiaizu Snow Festival
Date: Saturday, February 13th – Sunday, February 14th
Area: Nishiaizu
Time: Saturday, 3pm – 6:30pm; Sunday, 9:30am – 3pm
Address: Sayuri Park 〒969-4401 西会津町登世島字西林乙2529－10
Nishibayashiotsu-2529-10 Tosejima, Nishiaizu-machi, Yama-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-4401
Details: Come visit the small town of Nishiaizu for their annual winter festivities. At this event you can enjoy things such as candle illuminations, ice cream making, fireworks and snowmobiling!
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Name: Takamatsuyama Kanon Temple Festival
Date: Sunday, February 14th
Area: Motomiya at Takamatsusan Kanon Temple (高松山観音寺)
Time: Unspecified
Address: 〒969-1204, 福島県本宮市糠沢字高松27
Takamatsu-27 Nukazawa, Motomiya-shi, Fukushima-ken 969-1204
Details: Watch Buddhist rituals to commemorate the start of the New Year on the old calendar.
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Name: Urabandai Snow Festival
Date: Friday, February 19th – Sunday, February 21st
Area: Urabandai
Time: Friday, 12pm – 8pm; Saturday, 10am – 9pm; Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Address: 〒969-2701、福島県耶麻郡北塩原村大字桧原字小野川原1092−65
Onogawahara-1092-65 Hibara, Kitashiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima-ken 966-0400
Details: Join this annual festival to see 3,000 lit up (5:30pm – 8pm Friday and 9pm Saturday), visit an ice bar (from 5pm), watch some fireworks and plenty of other hands-on events such as making candles, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more!
Website: http://www.urabandai-inf.com/event/index_syosai.php?id=214
Facebook Event (Japanese)
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Name: Minami Aizu JETs are hosting the annual… Miz Ski Weekend!
Date: Friday February 19th – Sunday February 21st
Area: Minami Aizu
Time: Join us at any time over the weekend! Check the Facebook event for updates and staying in contact
Address: All over the mountains!
Details: Every year we draw people out from under the kotatsu and onto the ski slopes. This year is no different. Join your fellow JETs for a weekend of skiing and snowboarding fun, followed up by a slumber party! Bring drinks and snacks to share! Check out the Facebook event for more information!
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Questions, comments, or assistance with attending upcoming events? Contact Sarah at newseditor@fujet.org!